Community in mourning after tragic death of 18-year-old hockey player

The close-knit community of Vancouver Island is in mourning after learning a recent tragic car crash killed a local hockey player. Grant Gilbertson, an 18-year-old who was in his second season with the Peninsula Panthers of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League, died during an accident on Tuesday that police believe was likely caused by icy road conditions.

"I drove to the rink for practice around 5:30 p.m. and the roads were absolutely fine but when I arrived in the parking lot at the Panorama I could see that it looked really greasy," said Panthers owner Pete Zubersky in a news release

Grant's Mom called me a while later and said that she had heard that there had been an accident in the 4-lane near Humpback Road and she was worried that it might be Grant,: continued Zubersky. "I checked the dressing rooms downstairs and nobody had heard from him and so a few of the guys tried to contact him without any luck. When he didn't show for practice and didn't get to practice, I was getting really concerned as well."

"The news arrived with twenty minutes left in the practice, it was devastating to say the least. I cannot explain the grief we felt as a group, it was palpable. I am just so saddened by this situation and I know that Grant's family and friends have had their hearts ripped out. This is really a true tragedy in every sense of the word and our Organization's every thought, every second of every day is on Grant and his family."

The VIJHL is a not-for-profit association which operates a junior "B" ice hockey league of 11 franchised member clubs, all of which are currently located on Vancouver Island. Leagues such as these tend to have close personal relationships between teammates, coaches, owners, etc. Gilbertson was really showing his talent this season, recording 41 points (16G, 25A) in 38 games.

Zubersky said he has the blessing of the family to move ahead with scheduled games, as he knows that's what Gilbertson would have wanted.

"We strongly believe that the players need to be together, to be able to work through their grief with the support of each other. There has been an incredible amount of love and support from the other Organizations in the League. We all battle and compete night in and night out but everyone closed ranks immediately when this happened. The hockey community is a small one and a close one."

"It is the right thing to do. The Panthers were extremely important to Grant and I know in my heart that he would want his teammates to play," said Zubersky.

Our sincere condolences to the family, friends, and teammates of Grant Gilbertson, as well as the entire VIJHL and everyone involved.

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